First timer - places to sit?

Yes, and there are buses that you can ride from hall to hall. 

Richie

I am not an expert by any means, only been to York once so far.  But I remember there being benches outside each hall.  Usually one or two benches near the entrance to the hall and a few scattered here and there between the halls.  Some halls have benches outside the side entrances.  The larger halls such as Orange, I believe have some folding chairs for people to sit with some tables as I think some food vendors are set up in the entrance lobbies.  I recall being able to find a place to sit most times that I wanted to, but I also wouldn't say an abundance of seating exists compared to the number of people in attendance.

Further, you can rent a scoter by-the-day.

I know all the member halls have folding chairs at the end of the rows along the walls. I have used them to take a load off for a few minutes! You may want to take Barry's advise on renting a scooter since there is a LOT of ground to cover. There is a building near to the Orange hall where you can rent them, however, you may need to reserve one ahead of time.

Sam

The bigger halls like the silver, blue and orange have plenty of places to sit. I have the same problems and the most difficult time is when I walk from the white hall to the blue hall. Good luck.

If you are in the Silver Hall and need to sit, Stop by my table b-11+12 on the center aisle. I have extra chairs.  

The largest hall, Orange, has food vending service, there are tables and chairs.  There are other food vending services through the complex.   Can be a long day on legs not acclimated to walking.  IMO expect to do (3 to 4 miles).  The Health world constantly takes about 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day. 

Your issue will be a non problem.

make sure to were good comfortable shoes.

I feel you pain. There are plenty of places to sit, mostly outside each hall. If for some reason (surely hope not) there is a medical staff and there response time is incredible

Thanks, All;  I'm not too severe; just a pinched disk now and then where I need to sit so I can stretch the back muscles. Usually helps within a minute or so.  Don't need a scooter; just want to be able to sit when I need a minute or two.

I just didn't know if there was only one hall with a collection of chairs, or if they are obviously available to all.

Really getting excited....

Carl, you should be getting excited. This is nothing like the York Met, absolutely nothing. Look forward to seeing you there.

Don't forget the Thursday night Forum gathering at Ruby Tuesday's.

I'm going to throw this out in the For-What-It's-Worth category re your sciatic nerve/lower back pain struggle...

It almost ruined a couple of York trips for me not long ago.  At its worst I nearly cried just sitting in the driver's seat of the RV for the 10-hour run to-and-from York...but I was determined to make the trip. 

I had/have (haven't been to him for more than a year now!) an excellent chiropractor who helped me through the ordeal as best he could.  One day we talked about mattresses...what we're sleeping on.  Turns out, he's a HUGE advocate of the Memory Foam genre, Tempurpedic in particular.  About two years ago we upgraded our RV (our rolling York home!) and the new one had a memory foam mattress on the bed.  HOLY MOLY!  What a change in that first night's sleep!!!

Fast forward to the next few months....ditched our home mattress for a new I-Comfort (Serta) memory foam mattress...   Now, almost a year later....I've pretty much forgotten I ever had the lower back pain....IT'S ESSENTIALLY GONE!!!

OK, what does this have to do with trains???   DUH!!  EVERYTHING!!!!  I never realized how much the ol' back is a part of this hobby...from crawling under the benchwork to do wiring, to walking a few miles through the aisles of York.

Even better....the wife is raving about her own sleep quality in the new mattress!

I know that this is not the answer for everyone, but your concern struck a nerve (pun intended!!!)  Meanwhile, as others have said, you are among many empathetic friends at the York meet.  Most vendors would gladly loan you a chair if you needed one in a pinch (...whoops, another pun!), but there are LOTS of places to rest anyway.

Don't let this keep you from York...especially for that first time!!  You have a lot of us that have experienced what your suffering...and the 'York experience' will greatly reward you for the effort as we can testify!!

And may God bless you with healing...SOON!

KD

Most if not all of the seats will be occupied before the opening bell. You may want to stay by you car to have a place to sit before the opening bell. or get there early to get a seat. Meet new people.

Carl, you are more than welcome to stop by our booth and rest a bit. We are in the orange hall booth AA6 & AA7 on the backside of concessions. We have a few extra chairs in our booth. 

The comfort level of many of the benches will depend on the weather.  Some are under awnings, some are unprotected.  Of course, it's always 70 and sunny during York so it shouldn't be an issue.  Beware - it only rains when you are carrying stuff back to your car, and the force of the rain will correspond to the size/weight of your purchase.

Enjoy your first York.

Orange Hall lobby has a lot of sitting room indoors. Blue/Silver has seating but not as much.

The others you might only find outdoors...Use the shuttle, it's the best way to get around and back to orange.

Y'know, I'm really hoping to be able to make Thursday at Tuesday's, and will not miss the OGR Grandstand event on Friday.  I'd like to meet some of the members of this forum whom we've poured out our hearts to, celebrated, and offered comfort.

Thanks to several of the exhibitors who've even offered chairs in their booths.  Whatta group....

Really getting excited.  My wife is not attending this year due to dog care issues, but she's basically said to treat it as a bucket list item and not regret anything.

Too bad we don't have "Hi, I'm Bob!" type badges that can identify forum participants.

Many forum participants can often be spotted wearing various OGR forum polo shirts that were offered in years past, and OGR had their own badge-holder that some still use.

Sometimes you can even recognize fellow forumites just walking around by looking at  the names on their York badges (the ones who use their own names here, anyway).

By far, the best place to meet forumites is the gathering at Tuesdays on Thursday night.

Andy

I place my Forum handle on the front of the badge. You might consider going to the Orange Hall before the opening bell at noon on Thursday. Many of us hang out there to the right of the concession stand where the tables and chairs are located.

Look forward to meeting you, Carl.

Carl,

I have the same problems as you do.

As Marty says, there will be no issue.

I plan ahead.

When my hip starts to hurt, I buy a locomotive or a nice passenger car.

The pain dissipates for at least an hour.

Repeat this process until the halls close.

Call me in the morning.

Eliot "Scrapiron" Scher

You're all welcome to stop by RPO Trains in the Orange hall, row BB13, and sit a spell, and shoot the breeze. We have a few chairs along the main aisle that many folks use. 

Don

Me thinks Eliot is on to something...........by holding a new legacy engine in one arm for awhile, the stretching of the latisimus dorsi will occur while pulling gently at your spine and perhaps somehow soothing the ache/pain.

      And by holding another new purchase in the other arm while walking to the car.....well that heavy wallet is lighter........after unloading the goods...the back may feel better!

Man O Man!! I gotta make this trip one day!

I've never been to York.

 Over the years one reason is these days with online buying really being the largest continuing train show there is.. I didn't feel the need to travel that far to look at more trains. 

What really tempted me isn't the trains though but the people...the chance to meet all the faces that go with all the on-line names was what called to me. I came the closest to going back in the day of the AOL train gang BBQ and later Viking club gatherings. By the time I had decided I was going next year the gathering was struck with some tragic loses and ended. So much for that idea..

Over the years I have always followed the threads and looked at the pictures from the OGR grandstand meetings and Thursdays at Fridays which is now at Tuesdays.. and thought as I became more a part of the OGR community.. one of these days..

It's threads like this though that finaly make me realize York is much more than just a huge train meet.. it's all about the people!

One of these days......

RD: You are so correct. Do it! Go to York at least once. You won't regret it!